into the enjoyment of realising your interest in Him. It is by believing the fact of His interest in me I come to realise that I have an interest in Him. Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

One of the greatest difficulties of saving faith arises from the great simplicity of the Gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts xvi. 31.) Surely we have sufficient warrant and encouragement. God has revealed to us His "covenant; ordered in all things, and sure,” confirmed and sealed in the blood of His dear Son, and attested by His Word, to which His oath is added: "That we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." (Heb. vi. 17, 18.) Another difficulty constantly objected isthat salvation by faith in Christ only is a doctrine not sufficiently practical. Such objectors seem not to comprehend what the salvation of God really is. It is written, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John xiv. 12.) Dost thou believe? If I address one who has been satisfied hitherto with an empty profession-if I address one who has hitherto taken for granted he has believed, without at the same time finding peace and rest and power, and without being assured of salvation; one who therefore has been tempted to think there is a great deal more to be done than simply to "believe on the Son of God" in order to possess and enjoy these things-let me ask him to come and believe on Him now-to take God at His word, and no longer to "make Him a liar."

The name

of the Son of God is " "Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." His righteousness is an "everlasting righteousness," and "His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear Him." His truth is the eternal truth of God, and His promise is, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out."

May "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Rom. xv. 13.)

Dear reader, do not lightly put aside this vital question answer it to God and to your own conscience; and ask God, for Christ's sake (according to His promise), to give you His Holy Spirit, that you may "know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Cor. ii. 12.) "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"

THE

XVIII.

Aaron's Breastplate.

EXODUS XXviii. 15-30.

HERE are few Scripture emblems more full of comfort and encouragement for anxious, troubled, doubting souls than this, the most precious part of Aaron's garments "for beauty and glory." The breastplate was worn upon the heart of the high priest, and was so fastened to the ephod as never to be separated from it. Twelve stones were set in it, all precious stones, but no two of them were alike. They were altogether different, in form, hue, character, and also in beauty and value (according to man's estimation), but all of them were gems in the sight of God, one as much so as another. They were each set in gold, and they rested equally upon the heart of Aaron when he ministered before the Lord.

Doubtless these precious stones were gathered in lands far sundered. Some from the depths of ocean, it might be, and some from the dark mine. But whatever their variety, or the circumstances of their history, or the distance from which they were carried, they were united in the narrow compass of the high priest's heart;

and diamond, and jasper, and emerald were borne there equally and together for a memorial before the Lord. continually.

Truly here are great things for the faith of God's living stones. His jewels to apprehend, to realise, and triumph in. The breastplate of the high priest of old was a picture of the inmost heart of our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ-the Holy Spirit thus unfolding it to our eyes that we may see, and know, and believe what is within.

Here we are taught that each believer has his own place in the heart of Christ—his own peculiar place consecrated to himself. He is individualised there, and no other child in all the family of God, or all the other children put together, could fill that place.

This law of nature in our earthly homes is our Father's law of grace in our home above!

Let not the jasper grow dim because it is not a diamond, or the diamond be clouded because it is not an emerald. We have no good cause to pore over our conditions, or compare ourselves with others. Whatever be thy condition, or thy circumstances, believer; whatever may be the nature or character of thine infirmity; whatever may be thy condition or the measure of thy faith; whether the light reflected on thee be bright, or dim, or blood-stained-Jesus knows thee by thy name, owns thee, undertakes for thee! Why art thou cast down? Is it not enough that thou art on the breastplate, set in gold, and borne (thyself and thy conditions) in the heart of thine High Priest for a memorial before the Lord continually?

And wherefore for a memorial? Doth our Father in

heaven need such? Yes, truly. If not to inform His omniscience, yet to satisfy and delight His love; and, principally, that His people's faith may be encouraged, and that they might have in heaven wherewith to comfort their hope and assure their hearts.

And why were those precious stones with the names of the tribes to be borne continually before the Lord? Just to teach us, that as this ordinance was not and could not be affected by the circumstances, frames, feelings, sins, inconsistencies, rebellings, or even the captivities of Israel; even so, however matters may be with the believer here below, his name is written on Christ's heart above, and borne for a memorial before the Lord continually.

Lastly, this breastplate had a remarkable name— "The Breastplate of Judgment," because it recorded the judgment or sentence and purpose of our God towards His people. "I know the thoughts that I think towards you," etc.

What a judgment of forgiving love it was! Who can believe the record, and yet doubt our Father?

The command that it was to be borne officially, on the heart of the high priest, and never to be separated from his ephod, was full of Gospel. It tells us how our great High Priest would bear on His Heart of hearts His people's cause-devoting His whole person, power, influence, fulness, to carry into effect "the pleasure of the Lord;" attending to their interests, providing for their wants, sympathising with their conditions, and laying out His eternity for their blessedness; bearing them in His heart as a part of Himself, "A memorial before the Lord continually."